19 Years Old & Willing To Learn - What Do You Know Now That You Wish You'd Known? [Archive] - Resource for Opening a Bar, Opening a Nightclub, Managing a Bar, Managing a Nightclub

View Full Version : 19 Years Old & Willing To Learn - What Do You Know Now That You Wish You'd Known?

Rogue

09-07-2008, 02:09 PM

Hi guys, I'm 19 years old and live in Ontario, Canada. In Canada, it's legal to both drink and enter clubs at 19...

I was always fascinated by the nightclub/bar business, there's just something about the energy in it that motivates to pursue something that in field.

Now, I know there are a lot of 19 year olds who think they know everything, I can assure you that isn't who I am. I was also considering interviewing local club owners and asking them about their success.

I just wanted some advice on what I can do now to possibly start a business in approximately 2-3 years time, what do you guys know now that you wish you had known when you started? And what would you had done at 19 to better your chances of a successful business?

PS: Just one more question. The city I live in isn't exactly the city that I plan to operate a business, I just feel the economy here is dying and there are much more flourishing cities around the United States & Canada. Is there any kind of hinderance to start a business in a place away from home, and a place that you know? Or should I possibly live in the city I want for a certain amount of time before considering to open my business?

Again, thanks a lot!

Michael Black

09-08-2008, 01:44 AM

BostonDave

10-16-2008, 11:32 PM

If you're really serious about owning your own place, even if its 5 or 10 years down the road:

#1 Listen to the above and work at any bar/club/lounge etc doing anything theyll let you...work your way up..learn the industry if you can, make mistakes as an employee not as an owner

#2 Save every penny you can! Start saving now and keep doing it so that youll have some equity to contribute when the time is right. Im 24 and have been saving/working since I was 14 and am just now coming close to opening my first place.

Good Luck and let us know how you progress!

Ruben

11-27-2008, 10:30 PM

If you are in or near Toronto, I would contact Charles Khabouth of Guvernment or Peter Gatien of Circa or one of there people explaining your desires and goals. Try to get your foot in the door with any position even as an unpaid intern if you must. Then work, educate yourself, and keep on working and learning. Maybe Ruben in Toronto as an upcoming promoter, and here on the board, can help you out or steer you in the right direction.

hehehehheeeeeeeeh Charles Khabouth of Guvernment or Peter Gatien heheheh

Charles is a great guy, very powerful person owning about 6 clubs under INK.
You wont get a chance to talk with him nor will u get the change with Peter. You say now you open a club and all, have you ever worked in a club?

I started young working in the clubs, starting doing all age parties and then turning 18 i jumped on board part of management for a club in Mississauga. I ran mostly the bars and barbacks and made sure everything was up and ready for the night. I now do promotions and let me tell you its hard! Its hard to get support from club owners to do things the right away. Clubs here in Toronto aren't the best, sad to say it but they aren't. Every club you go to is the exact same no matter if you go to the north west corner or the east south corner. SAME CRAP! They don't believe in change which is sad because people get BOARDED of the same crap every weekend 365 days of the year well not 365 but the nights your open. The layouts and themes never change... Just because you through a James bond party and you dont do anything inside like James bond theme then your Lying to the people who come expecting a james bond theme.

Its sad, i'm being very honest with you.

james turner

11-28-2008, 12:37 PM

titansgs

12-08-2008, 01:51 AM

hi, im in the same situation and live in the uk. im 20 and have already opened a chain of health stores and the only reason why is because i want to fund my own club and in the uk its about 1.5mill to get anything near to something special.

All you 20 year olds thinking about owning a club- it's not all glamorous. There are three parts; the business side, management side and event side. You must be able to make good judgments. Don't just be prepared financially, make a business plan now. As you grow, you will be able to revise it and make it better. Be sure that it is honest, without the fluff.

What will your niche be? How much will you make in the first 5 years? Do you have an entry strategy, exit strategy? What will stop your competition from being better than you? Who is your market, how will you satisfy them? Make sure it is well planned. This industry has a high failure rate. But if you get it right the first time, you can easily create 5-6 clubs.

Ruben

12-09-2008, 10:36 PM

All you 20 year olds thinking about owning a club- it's not all glamorous. There are three parts; the business side, management side and event side. You must be able to make good judgments. Don't just be prepared financially, make a business plan now. As you grow, you will be able to revise it and make it better. Be sure that it is honest, without the fluff.

What will your niche be? How much will you make in the first 5 years? Do you have an entry strategy, exit strategy? What will stop your competition from being better than you? Who is your market, how will you satisfy them? Make sure it is well planned. This industry has a high failure rate. But if you get it right the first time, you can easily create 5-6 clubs.

Why create 5-6 MASTER 1 FIRST......no way in hell will you get 5up and be in all of them. IF you can master 1 then i guess you can sell it if you can get the money you've invested and made money off of it and then start a new one..... people get to greedy and then see themselves in a hole..... There's nothing wrong with a 20 year old thinking of opening a club. I've been working in the clubs for a few years now and started when i was younger in the all ages world. I'm 21 as of last month. I don't own a club, i do parties for clubs and its clients. I do a lot. I've been part of the opening of a few clubs here. I Love it and some people think that i'm always thinking about this industry, but you know something if you enjoy it and work in it and make the best of it and can make money no matter if its slow or busy you'll be successful.

Be positive and stay focused if you have a dream but make sure that dream is achievable. Plan but plan according to what you have to make that plan work. You need some help we are all here to answer questions you might stumble upon and trust me you will stumble a lot but if you fall dont give up! Get up and brush yourself. Those that give up will always give up! Millionaires are millionaires for a reason they never give up till they have concord! ;)

james turner

12-11-2008, 07:34 AM

totaty agree with you ruben, if youv got a dream and youv got the drive,skills and determination to push it forward then with the right planning anythings possible. i was put down by a lot of people when i started my first business,i didnt listern to the weak and went for it.now, 4 years onthe proof is here.iv achieved it,so others can too.Now im moving on to my next project, a nightclub.Ill succed,if at first i fail, then try and try again till i get the result i want.

HBSean

12-15-2008, 04:08 PM

Get a college degree. If you spend 10 years in the club business and realize it's not your style, you have a better chance of changing careers. Plus, you can work part time in the club/bar business all through college. Like one guy said, learn the ropes on someone else's dime. Plus, with a degree in business, it will only help you on the business side. If I could have done it over again, I would have bartender 10 years while earning my degree instead of 7. It's a lot of fun when your balls are not on the line to make it work. Enjoy your youth. One more tip, go somewhere warm for all this.